Exercise device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device which includes a pair of side frames extending substantially vertical in parallel position and held in relatively fixed position by cross members. An extension projects from one end of each side frame and a padded horizontally disposed bar is adjustably fixed between said extensions and is adapted to engage the front of the leg of an exerciser at approximately the height of his ankle. A padded leg support member adapted to engage the back of an exerciser&#39;&#39;s leg at about his calf extends between the side frames above the bar and is vertically movable on the side frames to accommodate movements of the exerciser.

Waited States Bock atent [191 EXERCISE DEVICE [76] Inventor: Wallace 0. Bock, 26606 Wolf Rd.,

Bay Village, Ohio 44128 [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 801,498

[ Jan. 22, 1974 316,953 1934 Italy 272/58 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro An exercise device which includes a pair of side frames extending substantially vertical in parallel position and held in relatively fixed position by cross members. An extension projects from one end of each side frame and a padded horizontally disposed bar is adjustably fixed between said extensions and is adapted to engage the front of the leg of an exerciser at-approximately the height of his ankle. A padded leg support member adapted to engage the back of an exercisers leg at about his ca-lf extends between the side frames above the bar and is vertically movable on the side frames to accommodate movements of the exerciser.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures v1 EXERCISE DEVICE Injuries to the knees of athletes have been a problem from the beginning of time. The knee appears to be the weakest part of the anatomy, particularly when concerned with contact sports. Many great athletes have been side lined for long periods of time and careers closed out because of these injuries.

It is axiomatic that the'strongest knees will survive rigorous years of twisting and turning only when they are by nature strong enough to withstand these strains. Many knee joints which appear normal to the casual observer will, upon careful examination by physicians and competent trainers reveal some lateral play. Physically, this lateral play cannot be remedied. However,

with proper muscle conditioning the danger of injury may be reduced.

Knee joint strength is governed largely by the development of the quadriceps along the thigh. As all the muscles of the thigh function relative to the knee, the importance of having a strong set of muscles adjoining the knee is the most vital part of leg conditioning. Thus, there is a need for proper equipment directed specifically to strengthening the quadriceps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This long felt need has been filled by the apparatus of the instant invention which is specifically designed to strengthen the thigh muscles and condition them properly so that the knee joint itself will be in its strongest condition. It is designed to let the muscles flex and work against body weight. The theory of this unique apparatus is that the body performing within itself is much more inhibitive to strain reaction and provides better sensory control than does a device which incorporates lifting devices consisting of foreign articles of weight to be fixed to the body. By lifting ones own body weight with the exercise as provided by this apparatus, a person performs a more natural form of exercise which in the end is more beneficial and is a more natural way of strengthening the knee.

The device consists of a pair of side frames joined by appropriate cross pieces for support and proper rigidity. On one end of each of the side frames is a substantially horizontal extension. A padded bar is fixed between the two extensions for engaging the front part of the leg at approximately the height of the ankle and a foot rest is provided below the padded bar to support the exerciser when he begins the exercise. Vertically movable leg support means extends between the side,

frames above the padded bar and is intended to engage the calves of the exercisers legs to support the leg between the knee and the ankle in a substantially vertical position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device particularly adapted to strengthen the leg muscles adjoining the knee.

Further objects will become obvious from a reading of the specification and an observance of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION oF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise device comprising this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the exercise device showing in phantom an exerciser using the device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the exercise device indicating the adjustable parts of the apparatus in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the exercise device with the legs of an exerciser shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along line 55 of FIG. 6; and

I FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along line 66 of FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT- The intent of this exercise device is to condition the knee and particularly to strengthen the muscles along the thigh. The knee joint per se consists of bone and cartilage. There is no way to-specifically strengthen these elements. However, it is possible to strengthen and condition the muscles attached to those areas and thereby strengthen the joint overall.

The exercise device of this invention includes two side frame members 12 shown to be of a generally triangular shape. Other shapes could be used if desired. One portion 14 of the triangle lies substantially horizontal near the floor, another side 16 extends vertically and a sloping section 18 completes the triangular frame. Two cross pieces 20 and 22 extending between 'the side frame members for rigid support are held in place by bolts 21 extending through T-shaped clamps 23.

A U-shaped extension 24 projects from the vertical side 16 of each side frame member with a rigid bar 26 slidably attached thereto. Hollow T-shaped clamps 28 circumscribing the extensions 24 are bolted to the cross bar 26 and integral with each clamp 28 is a spring biased latch 32.

The latch 32 consists of a housing 34 circumscribing a coiled spring 36 which biases a pin 38 toward the extension 24. As best seen in FIG. 5, the pin 38 is limited in its movement in one direction by a shoulder 40. When the device is in operating position, the pin 38 extends through one of a plurality of openings 42 in the extension 24. In this manner, the bar' 26 is rigidly locked in position when the. exercise is being performed. Different people will prefer different adjustments of the bar 26.'Thus a head 44 is provided on the upper end of the pin 38 for raising it out of the aperture 42 in the extension 24 to allow horizontal adjustment.

The particular latching mechanism illustrated is clearly optional. As would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, the T-shaped members 28 could be locked in position on the extension 24 by cotter pins, friction thumb screws or the device could be permanently locked in position with no adjustment whatsoever, as there is really very little adjustment needed.

Because the skin around the ankles is particularly tender, a tube of foam rubber 46 enclosed in a plastic shroud 48 surrounds the bar 26 to provide an ankle pad 49. Other shapes of padding may be substituted for the tubular pad 49 if desired without departing from the spirit of this invention. 3

Disposed between the extensions 24 below the pad The exercise device may be used without the foot rest 50 if desired and because of this, the foot rest is loosely supported between the extensions 24 and may be removed. However, the preferred embodiment includes the foot rest 50 because of the safety feature provided by the friction surface 54 and the mental well being of the exerciser in his general psychological feeling for doing the exercise. For some reason it has been found that the exerciser feels more comfortable with the foot rest in place as shown, the friction surface 54 seems to give him confidence that his feet will not slip.

For stability of the apparatus, a T-shaped clamp 58 similar to clamps 23 is provided at the junction between the horizontal portion 14 and the vertical side 16 of each side frame 12. Another such T-shaped clamp 59 is provided at the junction between the vertical side 16 and the upper section of the extension 24.

A leg support means 60 is slidably fixed to the vertical side 16 of the triangular side frames by U-shaped clamps 62, best seen in FIG. 6. Bolts 64 extend through openings in the U-shaped clamp and extend into the cross piece 60 which includes a bar 70 padded with foam rubber 72 surrounded by an appropriate plastic envelope 74. Thumb screws 80 threaded through the U clamps to engage the vertical side member 16 may be employed to lock the cross piece 60 in position temporarily, for example, when one is stepping into position. However, it is preferable to have the cross piece 60 free to move with the muscles of the leg when the exercise is being performed and in this manner, there will be no binding when the muscles flex.

Observing FIG. 2, it is preferable that a stool (not shown) be provided in the center of the device between the side frames 12 where the person performing the exercise may sit and rest between a series of exercises.

When starting the exercise, the cross piece 60 is lifted high enough to allow room to position both feet on the foot rest 50. With both feet on the foot rest facing forward and with both calves against the cross piece 60, the feet should be from 2 to 6 inches apart with the front of the ankles tight against the rolled pad 49.

When exercising one should start from a standing position and while keeping the upper body erect, slowly lower himself to imaginary sitting position, then slowly pull himself up to the original standing position. All of this should be performed using only the leg muscles. When lowering and lifting the upper body, the muscles doing most of the work are the tensor thigh muscles or quadriceps.

It is important to note that when this device is properly used, it will preclude the harmful deep knee bends sometimes seen in the warm-up exercises performed by athletic teams prior to a game. It is well known in the medical profession that deep knee bends tend to weaken the knee structure per se because it tends to loosen the bone within the cartilage. While using this device, the leg will tend to assume approximately a 90 angle when the body is in its lowest position. In this manner, maximum muscle tone will be accomplished and the undesirable aspect of deep knee bends will be avoided.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is intended to use stainless steel or aluminum tubes as the basic frame structure. However, any particular material is within the concept of this invention.

The uppermost extensions of side frames are particularly useful in that, should one feel a twinge of pain or feel weak while in the sitting position, he may grasp the side frames 12 with his hands and slowly lower himself to the stool. In this manner, accidental strains are avoided.

It is essential to have the horizontal portion 14 of the side frame extend far enough to the rear of the leg support to stabilize the apparatus and prevent tilting during the exercise. In light of this, the length of the horizontal portion 14 to the rear of clamp 58 is at least three and one-half feet. This will maintain the combined center of gravity of the apparatus and the exerciser somewhere forward of the rear extension 82 of the apparatus. Clearly shorter apparatus could be used in some instances.

For ease of description the principles of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment. It is not intended that the illustrated embodiment nor the terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as variations may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Rather, it is intended that any restrictions on the invention be limited to the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for exercising and strengthening the leg muscles by specific structural support means which allow the exerciser to move successively from standing position to modified squat position where his legs from ankle to knee are substantially vettical and from knee to hip are inclined downward, said structure comprisr a pair of horixontal elements for engaging the floor or the like,

a pair of vertical elements extending upward from said horizontal elements, one vertical element being rigidly attached to each horizontal elements,

a pair of sloping elements, each said element extending from one end rigidly fixed to one vertical element near the top thereof to another end rigidly fixed to near one end of its attached horizontal elements,

said elements forming two separate and generally triangular-shaped frame elements,

said frame elements being locked together to stand upright in vertical, substantially parallel planes by cross pieces extending between the two frames and being attached to each frame,

means projecting from each vertical elements for mounting an ankle bar means; ankle bar means for engaging the front of the leg of the exerciser at about the ankle mounted to said projecting means, cross bar means mounted horizontally to slide up and down on the two vertical elements during the squatting exercise for preventing binding and pinching of the exercisers skin during its stretching and contraction, said cross bar means comprising a bar extending between the vertical elements with its opposite ends including means loosely circumscribing said vertical elements, the horizontal spacing of the ankle bar and the cross bar means being about the diameter of the exercisers leg whereby the exercisers leg is held substantially vertical from ankle to knee during the exercise, the vertical spacing of the ankle bar and the cross bar means being about the distance from the exercis ers ankle to his calf, said last named distance being adjustable due to the loose sliding fit of the cross bar means on the vertical elements. 

1. A device for exercising and strengthening the leg muscles by specific structural support means which allow the exerciser to move successively from standing position to modified squat position where his legs from ankle to knee are substantially vettical and from knee to hip are inclined downward, said structure comprising, a pair of horixontal elements for engaging the floor or the like, a pair of vertical elements extending upward from said horizontal elements, one vertical element being rigidly attached to each horizontal elements, a pair of sloping elements, each said element extending from one end rigidly fixed to one vertical element near the top thereof to another end rigidly fixed to near one end of its attached horizontal elements, said elements forming two separate and generally triangularshaped frame elements, said frame elements being locked together to stand upright in vertical, substantially parallel planes by cross pieces extending between the two frames and being attached to each frame, means projecting from each vertical elements for mounting an ankle bar means; ankle bar means for engaging the front of the leg of the exerciser at about the ankle mounted to said projecting means, a cross bar means mounted horizontally to slide up and down on the two vertical elements during the squatting exercise for preventing binding and pinching of the exerciser''s skin during its stretching and contraction, said cross bar means comprising a bar extending between the vertical elements with its opposite ends including means loosely circumscribing said vertical elements, the horizontal spacing of the ankle bar and the cross bar means being about the diameter of the exerciser''s leg whereby the exerciser''s leg is held substantially vertical from ankle to knee during the exercise, the vertical spacing of the ankle bar and the cross bar means being about the distance from the exerciser''s ankle to his calf, said last named distance being adjustable due to the loose sliding fit of the cross bar means on the vertical elements. 